Team Member Spotlight: Tommy Johnson
In the second of an ongoing series of interviews, we are proud to feature some of the “back of the house” personalities who make it all happen. This month, Tommy Johnson, Senior Software Engineer.
What do you do at The Guestbook?
My day to day responsibility is developing the products that are used by our consumers or clients. But over the years I’ve been fortunate enough to contribute to the product road map, all inspired by our mission. It’s extremely motivating to be able to pitch an idea and then collaboratively bring it to fruition with our team.
How did you get started in the hospitality industry?
The Guestbook! I never planned to have a career in hospitality, but when I heard The Guestbook’s mission and the staggering stats about OTAs market share and how that impacts hoteliers bottom line, I was eager to get involved in helping to level the playing field for independent properties.
How did you get started at The Guestbook?
I’ve always been a big traveler, so when I saw The Guestbook’s engineering position I decided to set up a call with Michael, our CTO. I ended up taking the in-person interview with Michael and Jim, our CEO. After that meeting I was sold. The growth initiatives they were using and the new products they were working on were extremely innovative. I knew I wanted to be at a company that was always experimenting and challenging the status quo.
What do you like about working at The Guestbook?
Everyone is extremely collaborative and open to other’s thoughts, ideas, and insight. I believe The Guestbook has done a great job in being receptive to input from employees in every area of the business. It’s a refreshing change from antiquated corporations with ridged information flow.
What future innovations and/or challenges do you see coming up for hotel loyalty programs?
Battling the lingering health concerns around COVID is one of the biggest challenges in the near future. As an independent loyalty program, there’s a double-edge sword of properties providing unique guest experiences vs. providing consistency in other aspects of hospitality, such as cleaning practices. I think the biggest innovations will happen around loyalty programs. Products and services that improve the guest’s travel experience and the connection between the hotel, destination and the guest are going to fuel repeat business in the future.
What hobbies/activities do you do outside of work?
I’ve been lifting weights 5-6 days a week for almost 10 years, but sometimes that feels like work! For actual fun away from work, I really enjoy surfing and snowboarding. I’m actually writing this from Mammoth Mountain, waiting for it to open after their largest storm of the last 25 years!
